Marzotto made name in tennis

June 17, 2007|CURT RALLO Tribune Staff Writer

Football runs in his veins, but Elkhart Central High School athlete Nick Marzotto chose to pursue a different path in the arena of athletics. Marzotto, who played doubles for the Blue Blazers, saw first-hand the long-lasting effects that the violent world of football can have on an athlete. "I started playing tennis when I was in kindergarten," Marzotto said. "Then, I didn't do the lessons anymore. I moved on to football and other sports. "Then, in the eighth grade, I had a decision to make about playing football," Marzotto said. "I decided that I didn't want to get hurt and be crippled for the rest of my life. My Dad played college football, and he had to have an inch of vertebrae removed. I didn't want that happening to me." Marzotto's father, Bill Marzotto, played high school football at Mishawaka High School and Hillsdale College. Now, Nick Marzotto carries on the family tradition of excellence in athletics on the tennis courts, as well as the classroom. He finished 12th in his class at Elkhart Central and will attend Wabash College and major in Political Science and Spanish. "I played tennis at the parks pretty much every summer, but I wasn't serious about it," Marzotto said. "It wasn't until my eighth grade year that I got serious about it and I worked hard." Marzotto's hard work paid off. He played in seven varsity matches as a freshman, and since then, has owned a spot in the varsity lineup. Marzotto's intelligence is reflected in his play on the tennis court. "I play doubles, and in doubles, you have a lot more strategy," Marzotto said. "I try to intimidate people at the net and use my knowledge of the game. I look for weaknesses and intimidate my opponents with it." Marzotto, who hopes to play tennis at Wabash, appreciates the athletic experience in high school. "High school athletics helped me manage my time during school," Marzotto said. "It gave me a lot of experiences about different people, seeing how other people react. Tennis is so mental. It's interesting to see how people react under pressure. It's fun to watch, it's fun to try to outsmart somebody. That's what I love about tennis." Staff writer Curt Rallo:crallo@sbtinfo.com(574) 235-6152